Unit 6 — Energy Resources and Consumption

energy transformation

The conversion of energy from one form to another.

nonrenewable energy sources

Energy sources that exist in a fixed amount and cannot be easily replaced once consumed.

renewable energy sources

Energy sources that can be naturally replenished at or near the rate of consumption and reused.

electric generator

A device that converts mechanical energy (such as steam pressure) into electrical energy.

geothermal energy

Heat energy stored in the Earth's interior that can be extracted and used for power generation and other applications.

hydrogen sulfide

A toxic gas (H₂S) that can be released during geothermal energy extraction and has environmental and health impacts.

power generation

The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources.

carbon dioxide

A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change.

electricity

The form of energy released by fuel cells that can be used to power devices and systems.

environmental impact

The effect of human activities or technologies on the natural environment, including pollution, resource depletion, and ecosystem changes.

hydrogen

A chemical element used as fuel in fuel cells to generate electricity.

hydrogen fuel cells

Devices that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing water as the primary byproduct.

nonrenewable energy sources

Energy sources that exist in a fixed amount and cannot be easily replaced once consumed.

oxygen

A chemical element from the air that reacts with hydrogen in fuel cells to produce energy.

power generation

The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources.

water

The product formed when hydrogen and oxygen combine in a fuel cell, representing a clean emission.

kinetic energy

The energy of motion possessed by moving air in wind.

mechanical energy

The energy produced by the spinning turbine that is converted into electricity.

renewable energy sources

Energy sources that can be naturally replenished at or near the rate of consumption and reused.

turbine blades

The rotating blades of a wind turbine that convert kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy.

wind energy

Energy derived from moving air that can be harnessed for power generation.

wind turbines

Machines that use the kinetic energy of moving air to generate electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.

battery electric vehicles

Vehicles powered entirely by rechargeable electric batteries with no internal combustion engine.

conservation landscaping

Landscaping practices designed to reduce water and energy consumption, such as using native plants and reducing irrigation needs.

energy-efficient appliances

Household devices designed to use less energy while performing the same functions as standard appliances.

fuel economy

A measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, typically expressed as miles per gallon or kilometers per liter.

green building design

Architectural and construction practices that minimize environmental impact and energy consumption through efficient design features.

hybrid vehicles

Vehicles that use two or more power sources, typically combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.

public transportation

Shared transit systems such as buses, trains, and subways that transport multiple passengers and reduce individual energy consumption.

thermostat

A device that automatically regulates temperature by controlling heating and cooling systems in a home.

developed country

Countries with higher levels of economic development, typically characterized by lower infant mortality rates and less reliance on child labor.

developing country

Countries with lower levels of economic development, typically characterized by higher infant mortality rates and greater reliance on child labor.

energy consumption

The amount of energy used by individuals, communities, or nations over a specific time period.

energy demand

The total amount of energy required by a population or economy at a given time.

energy resources

Sources of energy that can be used to produce power, including fossil fuels and renewable sources.

fossil fuels

Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned.

industrialization

The process of developing industries and manufacturing in a region or country, leading to increased economic activity and energy demand.

anthracite

A type of coal with the highest carbon content and energy density, formed under the greatest heat and pressure.

bitumen

A thick, sticky petroleum product found in tar sands that can be extracted as crude oil.

bituminous coal

A type of coal with moderate carbon content and energy density, formed under moderate heat and pressure.

charcoal

A form of wood fuel created through partial combustion or heating of wood, used as an energy source.

cogeneration

The simultaneous generation of useful heat and electricity from a single fuel source.

crude oil

Unrefined petroleum extracted from the earth, used as an energy resource and raw material for various products.

firewood

Wood burned directly as a fuel source, commonly used in developing countries for heating and cooking.

fossil fuels

Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned.

lignite

A type of coal with lower carbon content and energy density, formed with less heat and pressure than other coal types.

methane

A greenhouse gas with global warming potential lower than nitrous oxide but higher than carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

natural gas

A fossil fuel composed mostly of methane, considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels.

peat

Partially decomposed organic material that can be burned as a fuel source.

tar sands

A combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen from which crude oil can be recovered.

coal

A fossil fuel formed from decomposed plant material, used as an energy resource for electricity and heat generation.

crude oil

Unrefined petroleum extracted from the earth, used as an energy resource and raw material for various products.

gas

A natural energy resource, typically natural gas, extracted from underground deposits and used for energy production.

geologic history

The sequence of geological events and processes that have shaped a region's rock formations and natural resources over time.

global distribution

The pattern of how natural resources are spread across different regions and countries worldwide.

natural energy resources

Energy sources found in nature that can be extracted and used, such as ores, coal, crude oil, and gas.

ores

Naturally occurring minerals or rocks from which metals and other valuable substances can be extracted.

carbon dioxide

A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change.

combustion

A chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen that releases energy in the form of heat and light.

electricity

The form of energy released by fuel cells that can be used to power devices and systems.

extraction

The process of removing fossil fuels from the earth for use as energy sources.

fossil fuels

Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organic matter, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release carbon dioxide when burned.

groundwater contamination

The pollution of water found beneath the Earth's surface, often resulting from mining operations.

hydrologic fracturing

A process used to extract fossil fuels by injecting fluid at high pressure into rock formations to create fractures and release oil or natural gas.

power generation

The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources.

turbine

A machine with rotating blades that converts the energy from steam into mechanical energy to generate electricity.

volatile organic compounds

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature and can be released into the environment during fossil fuel extraction and use.

decay

The process by which a radioactive element transforms into a different element by emitting radiation.

fuel rods

Cylindrical containers that store fissionable material (such as Uranium-235) in a nuclear reactor.

half-life

The time required for half of a radioactive element's atoms to decay into a more stable form.

neutron

A subatomic particle with no electric charge that strikes atomic nuclei to initiate nuclear fission.

nonrenewable energy source

An energy source that cannot be replenished on human timescales, such as nuclear power derived from finite uranium deposits.

nuclear energy

Energy released from the nucleus of an atom, used in power generation through controlled fission reactions.

nuclear fission

The splitting of heavy atomic nuclei (such as Uranium-235) into smaller parts after being struck by a neutron, releasing large amounts of heat.

nuclear waste

Hazardous solid waste produced by nuclear power generation, including spent fuel rods that remain radioactive for long periods.

radiation

Energetic particles or waves emitted from radioactive materials that can damage living organisms and the environment.

radioactive element

An element with an unstable nucleus that spontaneously emits radiation as it decays.

radioactive isotope

An unstable form of an element whose nucleus emits radiation as it loses energy.

radioactivity

The process by which unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation and decay over time.

thermal pollution

The release of excess heat into the environment from nuclear power plants, which can harm aquatic ecosystems.

turbine

A machine with rotating blades that converts the energy from steam into mechanical energy to generate electricity.

Uranium-235

A radioactive isotope of uranium used as fuel in nuclear reactors for power generation.

biomass

The total mass of living organisms in an ecosystem.

carbon dioxide

A greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels and respiration; a principal contributor to global climate change.

carbon monoxide

A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion that is toxic and classified as an indoor air pollutant.

deforestation

The removal or clearing of forests, typically to make way for other land uses or to harvest timber.

energy return on energy investment

The ratio of energy produced by a fuel source compared to the energy required to produce and process that fuel; ethanol has a low ratio.

ethanol

A biofuel produced from plant material that can be used as a substitute for gasoline in vehicles.

nitrogen oxides

Gaseous compounds of nitrogen and oxygen produced primarily from motor vehicle emissions and combustion processes that contribute to photochemical smog formation.

particulate matter

Small solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air that contribute to air pollution.

power generation

The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources.

volatile organic compounds

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature and can be released into the environment during fossil fuel extraction and use.

active solar energy systems

Solar energy systems that use mechanical and electric equipment to collect, transfer, and store heat energy captured from the sun.

clean energy

Energy produced with little to no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution during generation.

desert ecosystems

Communities of organisms and their physical environment in arid regions with low precipitation and sparse vegetation.

environmental impact

The effect of human activities or technologies on the natural environment, including pollution, resource depletion, and ecosystem changes.

passive solar energy systems

Solar energy systems that absorb heat directly from the sun without mechanical or electric equipment, and do not collect or store energy.

photovoltaic solar cells

Devices that capture light energy from the sun and convert it directly into electrical energy.

power generation

The process of producing electrical energy from various energy sources.

solar energy

Energy from the sun in the form of light and heat that is captured by living organisms.